Dry separator and amalgamator



(No Model.)

Mv. L. ALLSTOT.

DRY SEPARATOR AND AMALGAMATUR. No.- 392,978. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

Ag c

UNrrn STATES MARTIN L. ALLSTOT, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

DRY SEPARATOR AND AMALGAIVEATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming pari: of Letters Patent No. 392.978. dated November 20, 1888. Application filed March 24, 1888. Serial No. 268,375. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. ALLsToT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Separators and Arnalgamators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to dry separators and amalgamators for precious metals, and more especially for removing tine particles of golddust from the sand or soil with which it is found mixed.

This invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the machine. Fig. 2is a rear end view. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4t is a detail plan view of one of the breakers. Fig. is a plan view from below of a portion of the shaking sheep-skin separator and the lever for operating it.

A is the inclosing-case of the machine.

B are the breakers, each of which has four arms, b, triangular in cross section. The breakers are secured upon the shaft G, journaled in bearings c.

D is a belt-pulley for driving the machine, secured upon one end of shaft C outside the casing, and d is a toothed pinionsecured upon the other end of the said shaft.

E is a revoluble fan secured upon shaft e, which isjournaledin bearings f in the lower part of the casing, and F is a toothed pinion secured-upon the end of shaft c. r

G is an idle-wheel,which is journaled upon the pin g,seeured to the casing by the iiange g. The wheel G gears into the two pinions Fand d, and is provided with the crank H, so that the machine may be operated by hand, if desired.

I is an inclined sieve at the top of the machine, upon which the gold-containing dirt is thrown.

I are stationary plates of copper, which have their upper surfaces amalgamated with quicksilver, and which extend under the breakers,

` but it is preferably made to slide.

leaving an exit-opening, t', at the bottom toward the rear.

The sieve I is made of very coarse wire net, andis for the purpose of removinglarge stones from the dirt. The breakers are for pulverizing and breaking up the lumps of sandy dirt, the particles of which adhere together and inclose considerable gold-dust. The plates l are secured to the upper parts of the opposite ends of the case, so that the breakers revolve between them. The sharp front edges of the triangular arms of the breakers break and cut up the lumps of dirt and throw the earthy particles and gold against the inclined surfaces of the said plates, which converge and form the outlet t underneath the breakers. The opening iis narrow, so that the dirt does not pass through it until it has been thoroughly broken up by the sharp edges of the triangular arms of the breakers, and repeatedly thrown against the inclined surfaces of the amalgamated plates.

J is an inclined separator formed of sheared sheep-skin having the woolly side uppermost and stretched upon the frame J A series of holes, j, is formed in the skin. If desired, some woven woolen material may be stretched upon a backing ofleather or other similar material and used in place of the sheared sheepskin.

K are the guides upon which the frame J is supported. The separator may be stationary; Motion is imparted to the separator J by the lever K, which is. pivoted to the casing by the pin la, and is also pivoted to one end ofthe frame J.

L is an eccentric secured to the hub of the wheel G, and Z is the eccentric-rod,which communicates the motion of the eccentric to the lever K.

M are copper bars amalgamated with quicksilver, which extend transversely across the sheep-skin separator.

N are the windboards which direct the blast of the fan under the separator, and O is a hinged door at the rear of the machine for letting out the material which falls through the perforations in the sheep-skin.

The gold-containing dirt which falls through the sieve is pulverized by the breakers, and the fine gold-dust adheres to theamalgamated IOO surfaces of plates I. The remaining particles of gold are caught by the Woolly surface of the shaking sheep-skin separator and the amalgamated copper bars which extend across 5 it, and the dirt is blown out at the rear of the machine by the blast of air from the fan.

W'liat I. claim isl. The combination of the inclosing-case, the revoluble breakers, the inclined amalgamated o plates secured to the opposite ends of the case and forming a narrow outlet under the breakers, the revoluble fan, the inclined separator provided with awoolly surface and with transverse amalgamated bars, and the wind-boards 5 fordirecting the blast under the said separator.

2. The combination of tlieinclosing-case, the inclined sieve at the top of the case, the revoluble breakers provided with triangular arms, the inclined amalgamated plates secured to the :o opposite ends of the case and forminganarrow outlet under the breakers, the rcvolublc fan, the inclined separator provided with a woolly surface and with transverse amal gamated bars, and the. wind-boards for directing the blast z 5 under the said separator.

3. The combination of the inclosing-case, the revoluble breakers, the inclined amalgamated plates secured to the opposite ends of the case and forming a narrow outlet under the break- ;o ers, the revoluble fan, the inclined shaking sheep-skin separator provided with transverse amalgamated bars and sliding` upon guides secured to the casing,and the wind-boards for directing the blast under the said separator.

4. In a dry separator and amalgamator, the combination, with a revoluble fan, of the inclined shaking sheep-skin separator provided with perforations and having amalgamated bars extending across its woolly surface, guides for the separator to slide on, and wind-boards for directing the blast underneath the separater. v

5. The combination ofthe inclosing-case, the revoluble breakers and fan j ournaled in the case, the toothed pinions on the ends of the breaker and fan-sl1afts,the idle-wheel provided with a crank and gearinginto the said pinions, the inclined anialgamated plates secured to the opposite ends of the case and forming a narrow outlet under the breakers, the inclined sieve at the top of the machine, the shaking sheep-skin separator, the eccentric, and rod for imparting motion to the said separator. and the wind-boards for directing the blast of the fan under the separator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. n

MARTIN L. ALLSTOT.

Vitnesses:

JOHN M. SPENCER, JAMEs T. Srnvnns. 

